26 cases against travel scam accused

Pretoria - There are 26 other cases being investigated against three people arrested for an alleged travel scam and the murder of a Pretoria policeman, the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court heard on Monday.

“Currently there are 26 cases opened by complainants against Zambezi Tours and Safari that are still under investigation,” Constable John Ramollo said, testifying as to why the accused should not be granted bail.

“Cases have been opened all over the country against the company in Sinoville.”

Renette Wright appeared with Salome Klopper, while Wright's husband Hendrick Jacobus Wright was not present as he was in hospital. The two women were applying for bail.

The three are accused of defrauding Adriaan Petrus Johnson of R26 000. Johnson allegedly paid the money to the Wrights' company, Zambezi Tours, which was selling holiday packages.

Ramollo said the modus operandi of the business was to cancel trips a week before the departure date, with clients never getting their refunds. Klopper was said to be a receptionist and secretary.

They were arrested on July 24 in Sinoville, Pretoria. A police officer, Warrant Officer Ben Strydom, 47, was shot dead during a raid at their house while trying to arrest the husband.

According to police, when Hendrick Wright saw the police, he tried to escape through another door of the house but Strydom caught him. He allegedly drew a firearm and shot the policeman before fleeing.

While travelling on the Moloto Road, he stopped his car and shot and wounded himself.

Ramollo said the accused mostly defrauded pensioners.

He told the court how the Wrights planned to skip the country before they were arrested.

He said passports were discovered in a car when they were arrested.

“Accused one has a passport and she was leaving the country. She has a business in Namibia. If she is granted bail, she could leave and we won't be able to find her,” said Ramollo.

Ramollo told the court the two were flight risks and should not be granted bail. He said they did not have fixed addresses and employment.

He added that the address given by Wright was that of the house they were arrested in - a house she was leasing and was allegedly moving out of. The house was empty when police arrested them.

“She had rented he house from Just Letting but she was planning to move out of the house and she did not have a new address. Accused two (Klopper) gave us an address in Bon Accord and the house owner told us that Salome has been renting since January,” he said.

Magistrate Pierre Wessels asked Ramollo if he did not consider a person leasing a property to have a fixed address. He explained that Renette Wright was planning on moving out of the property which she was leasing and therefore did not have a fixed address. Ramollo said all three had outstanding warrants of arrest in the Northern Cape.